Hello guys, not been on for ages as my computer as been up the spout! Hope every one is well!
This isn't about a horse of mine, but a friend of a friend's horse, but as i sometimes look after her and have a soft spot for her would like some advice!
So this lady bought a 7 year old ex racer as a first horse-yep, i know! She is very very sweet and the first few times she rode her you would think she was a gentle old cob! But she has major issues which this lady has no idea how to address.
So firstly York, the horse has horrendous separation anxiety, I'm talking if she can't see another horse or if that horse is further away than York would like she flies into a blind panic, calling, rearing, spinning, kicking -scared the hell out of me the time she did it when i was leading her as it's like there is nothing there but panic and when i tried to go near her she just reared etc again. Since then leading out or in is done after and before another horse and she is better but can still have her moments.
She also hates being touched. She's ok to out a head collar on, even put her head down for you, and you can quietly stroke her neck, but trying to go near her back end or tough her legs (she's had a few deep cuts on her hocks) but we can't get near them to treat as she swings her butt round and kicks out sideways. And she hates the bridle-maybe teeth problems, but i think maybe so used to having the bridle ripped off she throws her head around now so it ends up being pulled off the same.
She was fine out hacking believe it or not, but now after being scared by a cow in a field wont go out.
Thing is we have tried to explain to this woman that instead of just turning up to ride her (one of those) she needs to actually spend time with her. talk to her, start grooming her and gradually make her way further down the body, do ground work with her before she even thinks of getting on and gain some trust. But she wont listen. I think to be honest shes too bloody scared of this horse and now they just stress each other out. She has asked another girl from the yard to help train her-I don;t know what methods she's using. I want to ask to help but as I have a dually which will fit and obviously want to try and at least incorporate some of the lessons from the uni, but I don;t know if that will just confuse her if i do one way and this other girl does something else?
I know she should have never gotten her in the first place and i doubt it will last,but i worry that if she is sold in the state she is in, she will just end up either as meat, or in a 'i know how to handle this, beating is best' home. Also while i am doing the odd day grooming for this lady i want to do my best to keep both myself and the horse safe and happy.
GO! lol
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Horse Behavior and Training
ex racer's nightmare
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Dear Widgymaphlip
I agree with you that this is not the right horse for this lady. I see only two solutions. One is to give back the horse to the place where it came from. The other is professional help.
Rudi
Hi. Well you have got yourself into a SITUATION. Ex racers are cheap to buy & that is a major problem. If the owner is scared then you might make progress if you can instruct her to accomplish a join up. You would need to do it first & then get her to do her own on a different day. Then, that might get you enough trust to make further advances but in reality, you are probably looking at a situation you cannot happily resolve. There are two other posts you should look at - "nearly untouched 4 yr old gelding" & yes, I'm the Jo in question. The other one is, and my memory is failing me - to do with being too fast under saddle. Sorry, I don't recall the actual title but it's one of the currently running ones. I've put in suggestions on this one too. Sorry. I am always honest & in this case I see little reason to encourage optimism. This horse deserves a knowledgeable, kindly home & she would then stand a chance but it just looks like a wall of problems which could well end up in someone going to hospital. Very sad. I assume this is all taking place far away from Scotland or I would offer to help personally. Cheers, Jo
A heart breaker she sounds like. I also have felt this way many times and I have had to walk away as it is very difficult to get involved when you don't then have full control over the situation. I worked with an ex-racer for quite some time however he was not as bad as this mare and he had a spoiling but kind hearted owner. I think Rudi gives the most succinct and correct answer. It doesn't sound like a very progressive home and this mare may well go on to hurt someone which is when it turns to the meat lorry or best it to death home situation so prob best to find her a new place sooner rather than later.
Hi Widgy, nice to see you back :-)
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Oh dear, where do we start....?!
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I could go into a lot of detail about all the points you mention and long explanations of things to do with the horse but before we get into it all ;-) I'm wondering whether you have had any more thoughts about how involved you want to get.
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This horse has very clearly been hit and the rehab programme is massive for this horse but, has a fabulous chance of being successful at 7 yrs old in the right hands - and there's the problem isn't it? Horse + Current Owner = Bad Match.
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You have given your opinions to this person - it is up to her to decide what she does. The ethical dilemma is, do you hang around and possibly witness it being mishandled and feel frustration that you can't do much or do you keep yourself physically and emotionally safe and walk away knowing that the horse will be moved on soon.
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Either way, you will have no control over where he goes unless you buy him yourself ;-) It is hard to walk away, but you if you do, you can still leave the door open for the own er to come and find you.
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Keep us posted!
Thank you for your replies! If I could take her on I would as she is such a sweetie, but alas, skint!
I have thought about join up with er as it would benefit her so much, but i worry that she would at least try and jump the sand school fence as she was trained as a steeple chaser. The fence is about 3 ft i think and the school big and i don't know if being on her own would send her silly-any thoughts?
Apparently the training she is having with this other girl is going well, but i don't know specifics so at the moment. For the time being I'm going to wait and see how it really is going then make a decision as to get stuck in or not. My boy takes up so much of my time training him and I don't want to compromise on our relationship, or get broken again any time soon! But I am a sucker for a challenge with a sob story! i shall let you know what happens! Thank you!
Thank you for your replies! If I could take her on I would as she is such a sweetie, but alas, skint!
I have thought about join up with er as it would benefit her so much, but i worry that she would at least try and jump the sand school fence as she was trained as a steeple chaser. The fence is about 3 ft i think and the school big and i don't know if being on her own would send her silly-any thoughts?
Apparently the training she is having with this other girl is going well, but i don't know specifics so at the moment. For the time being I'm going to wait and see how it really is going then make a decision as to get stuck in or not. My boy takes up so much of my time training him and I don't want to compromise on our relationship, or get broken again any time soon! But I am a sucker for a challenge with a sob story! i shall let you know what happens! Thank you!